From the 3/4 Classrooms

       Our Excursion to the Melbourne Museum!

Last week our Grade 3/4 classes went to the Melbourne Museum to engage in a number of exhibitions on offer. Our excursion complements our Term 4 unit, Our Island Home. They participated in the Climate Change and Victoria's Future Learning Lab Workshop. Students will attend an IMAX viewing of Great Barrier Reef 3D. They will also have the opportunity to explore the 600 Million Years Ago Gallery and Forest Gallery.

Climate Change and Victoria's Future Learning Lab Workshop

The session began wth a fully immersive video which captured all of the students. We then had a lesson on Climate Change. In this lesson, students learnt the science of climate change, arguably the most important issue of our time, in a factual, exploratory and hopeful environment. Students learnt the critical role our atmosphere plays in supporting life on earth with Victorian examples, and explore through physical and digital means the action areas that will support healthy environments for future generations. Students were then involved in 'hands on' activities including making posters on climate change and discussing and deciding on ways to have a birthday party with minimal waste going to landfill.

600 Million Years Ago Gallery 

Student wandered through the '600 Million Years Ago' Gallery learning about how Victoria has evolved over time through fossils, models, animatroincs and animations. There was so much information to read and take in, hands-on exhibits to interact with and mesmerising gemstones and crystals to look at. 

Here is a link if you would like to read more about the exhibit, or even better, go and visit and see for yourselves! https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/whats-on/600-million-years/

Forest Gallery

We wandered through the Forest Gallery, fully immersed in natured and dwarfed by the majestic trees. The forest was beautiful with a little waterfall, ferns, eucalypts and plenty of wildlife. Some of us were lucky to see a stunning blue Satin Bowerbird chirping away. Did you know the Satin Bowerbird collects blue objects to attract a mate? The one we saw was surrounded by blue milk bottle lids - fascinating!

IMAX Theatre - The Great Barrier

We were even able to squeeze in a show at the IMAX Theatre. We popped on our 3D classes and head into the theatre. The screen is HUGE and wow what an exciting experience to see the show in 3D! The focus was on the Great Barrier reef and how the coral and animal life are being impacted by human actions and Climate change. We learnt about the Turtle rehabiliation centre on Green Island and the amazing things they are doing there to help injured/sick turtles to then get them back into the wild. The story was told by a lady, Jemma Craig, who grew up on a tiny island, in the Great Barrier Reef, with her family. She was incredibily passionate about the Great Barrier Reef and invests her time into looking at ways we can protect the reef and how to get this message out there. 

We had a fantastic day at the Museum and learnt so much!

The Grade 3 and 4 Team